Chapter 316 Oregon Laws 2007

 

AN ACT

 

SB 135

 

Relating to Occupational Therapy Licensing Board; amending ORS 675.240, 675.250, 675.310 and 675.320.

 

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

 

          SECTION 1. ORS 675.240 is amended to read:

          675.240. Except as provided in ORS 675.270, each applicant for licensure under ORS 675.210 to 675.340 as an occupational therapist shall:

          (1) Have successfully completed an educational program in occupational therapy recognized by the Occupational Therapy Licensing Board, with concentration in biological or physical science, psychology and sociology, and with education in selected manual skills.

          (2) Pass to the satisfaction of the board an examination adopted by the board to determine the fitness of the applicant for practice as an occupational therapist or be entitled to be licensed as provided in ORS 675.270.

          (3) Have successfully completed at least six months of supervised field work that complies with rules adopted by the board.

          (4) Comply with continuing education requirements as adopted by the board by rule.

          (5) If the applicant has been unlicensed for more than three years, complete a board-approved reentry program or retake the board-approved national examination to determine fitness for practice as an occupational therapist.

 

          SECTION 2. ORS 675.250 is amended to read:

          675.250. Except as provided in ORS 675.270, an applicant for licensure under ORS 675.210 to 675.340 as an occupational therapy assistant shall:

          (1) Be at least 18 years of age.

          (2) Have successfully completed the academic requirements of an educational program for occupational therapy assistants recognized by the Occupational Therapy Licensing Board.

          (3) Pass an examination approved by the board to determine the fitness of the applicant for practice as an occupational therapy assistant.

          (4) Have successfully completed at least two months of supervised field work that complies with rules adopted by the board.

          (5) Comply with continuing education requirements as adopted by the board by rule.

          (6) If the applicant has been unlicensed for more than three years, complete a board-approved reentry program or retake the board-approved national examination to determine fitness for practice as an occupational therapy assistant.

 

          SECTION 3. ORS 675.310 is amended to read:

          675.310. (1) There is created in The Department of Human Services the Occupational Therapy Licensing Board. [It shall be] The board is composed of five members[,] appointed by the Governor[, three of whom]. Two members shall be licensed occupational therapists in this state with no less than three years of experience in occupational therapy immediately preceding their appointment[, and two of whom]. One member shall be a licensed occupational therapy assistant. Two members shall be members of the [consuming] public. Board members required to be occupational therapists may be selected by the Governor from [a list of no less than eight] nominees submitted by the Occupational Therapy Association of Oregon and the board. [However, one member of the board may be a licensed occupational therapy assistant.]

          (2) Members are entitled to compensation and expenses as provided in ORS 292.495.

          (3) Members shall serve a term of four years and may not serve more than two consecutive terms.

 

          SECTION 4. ORS 675.320 is amended to read:

          675.320. The Occupational Therapy Licensing Board shall have the following powers in addition to powers otherwise granted under ORS 675.210 to 675.340 or necessary to carry out the provisions of ORS 675.210 to 675.340:

          (1) To organize and elect from its membership a [president and secretary] chairperson and vice chairperson, each of whom shall hold office for one year or until the election and qualification of a successor.

          (2) To appoint a director to perform such duties as the board shall prescribe, and whose compensation shall be fixed by the board subject to ORS 240.245.

          (3) To authorize all necessary disbursements to carry out the provisions of ORS 675.210 to 675.340, including, but not limited to, payment for necessary supplies, office equipment and investigations and such other expenditures as provided for in ORS 675.210 to 675.340.

          (4) To suspend, revoke or invalidate licenses for nonpayment of renewal fees.

          (5) To restore licenses that have been suspended, revoked or voided.

          (6) To adopt license and license renewal fees under ORS 675.270, 675.280 and 675.290. The fees must be approved by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and may not exceed the cost of administering ORS 675.210 to 675.340.

          (7) To collect license applications and renewal fees.

          (8) To investigate alleged violations of ORS 675.210 to 675.340.

          (9) To enforce the provisions of ORS 675.210 to 675.340 and generally supervise the practice of occupational therapy in this state.

          (10) To make and enforce rules in accordance with ORS chapter 183 for the procedure of the board and for regulating the practice of occupational therapy not inconsistent with the provisions of ORS 675.210 to 675.340.

          (11) To establish minimum requirements for continuing education to be complied with by all licensees under ORS 675.210 to 675.340 [prior to reissuing licenses].

          (12) To establish minimum requirements for limited permit to be complied with by all applicants prior to issuance of limited permit. A limited permit shall be issued to a person at the discretion of the board upon application and payment of a permit fee of $25.

          (13) To establish official abbreviations that may be used, under ORS 675.220 (1), by persons licensed as occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants.

          (14) To establish minimum requirements for supervised field work necessary for applicants under ORS 675.240 or 675.250.

          (15) To adopt rules that define the scope of the practice of occupational therapy and that reflect national standards for the practice of occupational therapy.

 

Approved by the Governor June 11, 2007

 

Filed in the office of Secretary of State June 13, 2007

 

Effective date January 1, 2008

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